Boston's Best Language Classes

Like most cities in the United States, Boston is home to a mix of people with different ethnicities and spoken languages. It is also a hub of learning. Therefore, students, people looking to learn the local language and people hoping to learn a foreign language can find what they need in the Boston area. From institutes geared specifically toward language education to local community centers, there is a place in Boston for anyone to learn a new language. Classes in all of the most common and popular languages are available.

Boston Academy of English
59 Temple Place
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-6243
bostonacademyofenglish.com
Language: English
Levels: Beginner to Advanced/Teaching

The Boston Academy of English is the place in Boston for individuals who speak a foreign language and want to learn English. The academy accepts students straight off the plane from their homeland and even teaches courses for certification in teaching English as a foreign or second language. By offering business English and private classes, students can become prepared for using English in more than just a parlor setting. The academy can also help students find local housing within or outside of the BAE.

The Boston Language Institute
648 Beacon St, Suite #3
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 262-3500
bostonlanguage.com
Languages: Arabic, Swahili, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and Farsi (Note: Arrangements for lessons in other languages with the institute are possible)
Levels: Beginner to Advanced

The Boston Language Institute has a long history of teaching more than 100 languages in Boston. The institute opened in 1981 and has been teaching both common and uncommon foreign languages since. It also offers instruction on English as a second language and teaching English as a second language. There are no more than 12 students in any given course, making the classroom setting more intimate. Try your tongue at a unique language like Farsi or the increasingly-helpful Chinese language.

Related: Guide To Cooking Classes In Boston

Northeastern University
World Languages Center
360 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-3131
northeastern.edu/wlc/languages
Languages: Arabic, American Sign Language, Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Russian and Swahili
Levels: Beginner to Advanced

To learn a language at Northeastern University, one must be pursuing a degree with the university. With the World Languages Center, students can earn a Bachelor of Arts, which must include at least three courses in language. Students are offered an exchange/language immersion option known as "Dialogue of Civilizations." The center also hosts several events to promote conversational use of foreign languages. If you're not a current student, attend an event to get a better idea of cross-cultural languages.

HablEspaña Spanish School
59 Temple Place, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-4868
hablespana.com
Language: Spanish
Levels: Beginner to Intermediate

The HablaEspana staff includes native Spanish speakers from various countries including Spain, Mexico and Argentina. Therefore, the students who attend this Boston language school learn Spanish from the best, those who understand it as a first language. With larger and larger populations of Boston, and the entire United States, speaking Spanish as a first or second language, it is definitely a useful vocabulary to learn. The founder of HablaEspana -- Marisa Krall -- is also the founder of the Boston Academy of English.

International School of Boston
45 Matignon Road
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 499-1451
isbos.org
Languages: Mandarin, Greek, English, French and Italian
Levels: Beginner to Advanced

The adult language courses offered at the International School of Boston are a special program outside of the school's core academics. Any adult can enroll, whether they are a current student of the school or not. The school offers basic classes for beginners and more unique classes like those focused on honing language skills through debate. Between the low tuition, the variety of languages and the variety of classes available, the International School of Boston ranks high on the best places for adults to learn a language in Boston.

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Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.